Pensioners born pre-1959 urged to review their bank balances on Wednesday morning
Thousands of state pensioners across the UK may need to take action on an upcoming Wednesday morning. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is asking anyone born before 1959 to check their bank account balances promptly as part of the Winter Fuel Payment checks.
This guidance matters because it affects a large number of pensioners who rely on the Winter Fuel Payment to help cover heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. Getting the payment on time can make a real difference when bills rise (especially in colder parts of the UK).
winter fuel payment: what it covers
The Winter Fuel Payment is meant to ease the financial pressure of heating costs during the winter months of 2025 to 2026. Recipients can get sums ranging from £100 to £300, with the exact payouts being £100, £200, or £300.
This support is aimed at helping pensioners cope with higher energy use over the colder months. Eligibility is based on the recipient’s birth date and whether they meet certain conditions during the qualifying week.
who qualifies and how to claim
You are eligible if you were born before 22 September 1959. The qualifying week runs from 15 to 21 September 2025 (this is the period the DWP checks against).
Pensioners should have received a notification letter in October or November for the winter 2025 to 2026 payment. Automatic payments are usually made in November or December, but the DWP says you should check whether the payment has been paid into your account by 28 January 2026. If you haven’t received it by then, you should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre.
If you’ve never received the Winter Fuel Payment before, or if you’ve deferred your State Pension since your last payment, you may need to make a manual claim. Claims can be made by post or by phone.
automatic payments and who gets them
Most pensioners won’t need to claim manually because the DWP pays the majority automatically. That includes people already receiving benefits such as State Pension, Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The entitlement list also covers:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- awards under the War Pensions Scheme
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Death Benefit
If you receive any of these benefits, the Winter Fuel Payment should arrive automatically and you won’t usually need to take extra steps.
key dates and who to contact
If you do need to claim, the deadline is 31 March 2026 — after that date applications for the winter 2025 to 2026 scheme won’t be accepted.
If there’s a problem, such as not getting the payment or not receiving a letter, get in touch with the Winter Fuel Payment Centre for help and guidance from the DWP.
Making sure pensioners receive this support helps them plan and manage expenses during the winter months. With energy prices moving up and down, that financial help can be important, so eligible people should take the steps needed to secure their payment.